Convertible top structure



July 3, 1951 D. E. BRAMBLE CONVERTIBLE TOP STRUCTURE 2 Sheet's-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 31, 1947 INVENTOR.

Wai, Q. A. @Jr-S fifi /Org/ July 3, 1951' D. E. BRAMBLE 2,558,926

coNvERTTBLx-z ToP STRUCTURE i Filed oct. 51, 1947 2 sheets-sheet 2 J7 f7 jy )(30 a 2f 57 J0 IN V EN TOR.

i H BY Wuumcm Patented :Iuly 3, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims. l

This invention relates to convertible top structures for trailer or truck bodies, and has -for 'an 'object the provision of new and improved structures of this character.

In my Patent No. 2,406,737, issued September 23, 1946, and in my application filed May 7, 1947, Serial 746,501, now Patent 2,496,437, I have shown convertible top structures, and the present invention is directed to improvements over these structures, as well as over all other structuresof which I have knowledge.

It is an object of the 'present invention to provide a flexible convertible top structure, controlled by power operated mechanism, vadapted to -form a covering for the normal 4open-top of a vehicle body, or to be vcollapsibly removed lto an out-ofthe-way position, and in which the actuating mechanism is substantially confined to the upper margins of the side walls of the vehicle body.

Another object of the invention is to provide screw and nut actuating mechanism, operable to shift the convertible top structure in the manner desired, and wherein the actuating mechanism is driven by a compressed air motor connected to the brake system.

Still another object of the invention is to provide screw and nut actuating mechanism of the character referred to, having means for automatically limiting the travel thereof, regardless of continued operation of the drivingr mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is to pro vide means for movably lconfining the marginal edges of the convertible top while permitting shifting thereof, and in which the confining means are olfset inwardly from the side walls 'of f the vehicle body to remove the same from danger' of injury.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear from the following specication and attached claims, and from the accompanying draw-A Figure 5 is a view simi-lar to Figure Lshowing 2 the mechanism moving oppositely, Yin the direction of the arrow, to stretch the top in its closing function,

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary, vertical sectional view, -of the screw operated mechanism, showing the same at the -end of its top stretching movement,

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure -6, showing the screw operated mechanism atvthe limit of its opposite movement,

Figure 8 is a -fragmentary transverse Vsectional view of the operating mechanism, 'corresponding substantially to the line 8 8 of -Figure 7, while Figure 9 -is an end elevational View of the vehicle body, and showing the motor control mechanism.

As shown in the drawings, the vehicle body to which the invention is applied, may be of conventional design having the usual floor, not shown, and side walls IIJ-I0, braced by side posts II-II. The end portion I2, however, may be of relatively shallow rounded coniiguration, to leave a maximum sized opening I3, which will be little restricted by the presence of the convertible top structure, which is indicated generally by the reference character I4.

The top structure I4 includes an oblong flexible cover, or tarpaulin sheet I5, of a size long enough to cover the opening I3 from end to end, and of sufficient width to provide side margins vIii-46. At intervals along the underside of the flexible cover I5, there are provided bow-shaped cross members I'I and I 8, to the upper surfaces of each of which, the covering or tarpaulin I5 is attached by suitable fasteners ISI-I3. To the opposite ends of each of the bow members yI 'I there are attached block-shaped shoes 20-20. The shoes 20--20 of each of the cross members Il-I'l are slidably accommodated in longitudinally extending, elongated, spaced gude members 2I 2 I. The guide members 2 I-2 I, are substantially square in cross section, and are iixedly secured to upper surfaces of top rails 22-22, which are secured to the side wall structures I-Ill of the vehicle body. The guide members 2I-2I are spaced inwardly from the outer margins of the top rails 22-22,` for a purpose presently to appear. The guide members 2 I-2I are slotted along their inner sides, throughout their lengths, as indicated at 23, to provide slots affording clearance for the contiguous portions of the cross members Il, and to permit these members, and

the shoes 20-20 carried thereby to be moved 3 and has its opposite ends each welded to an actuating member 24. The members 24 are hollow, square in cross section, and each slidably mounted in one of the guide members 2I-2I. The parts associated with each of the guide members 2 I-2I are alike, and only one group will be described in detail, the same reference characters being employed for like parts of each. Each actuating member 24 has a partition V25, providing chambers 26 and 21. .The chamber 23 houses a nut 28, and the chamber 21, houses a nut 29. A pawl 30 is pivotally carried by the actuatingV member 24, Within the chamber 26, and is adapted to'engage a notch 3l in the nut 28-to prevent rotation of the nut 28 in a clock-wise direction, as viewed in Figure 8. A pivoted paWl 32 is carried within the chamber 21 for engagement withV a notch 33 in the nut 29, preventing counterclock-Wise rotation of the nut 29, as viewed in Figure 8.

I'he nuts 28 and 29 are adapted to be threaded on an elongated worm or screw shaft 34, The

. Worm shaft 34 is rotatably supported at one end 'in a bearing 35, and at its opposite end in the bearing 36. The worm shaft 34' extends freely Athrough openings 31 in the shoes ZIB-9, and freely through openings 38-38 in the actuating member 24. For a portion of the shaft 34.. ad-

jacent to the bearing 35, the thread on the shaft is' omitted, the worm terminating in a tapered formation, as indicated at39. The opposite end of the shaft 34 also has the worm omitted along theY portion indicated at 40, the terminal end of the worm being tapered, as indicated at 4I.

V'Ihe shaft 34, adjacent to the bearing is provided with a sprocket wheel 42, over which is trained a sprocket chain 43, the chain being driven by a sprocket wheel 44, attached to the arbor of a reversible compressed airV motor or actuating means 45. A second sprocket wheelis vsecured toV the motor shaft and drives the mechanism associated with the other guide means Y through a chain and sprocket connection indicated at 4B. The motor 45 may be'of a well known type, andconnected to the source of compressed air of the brake system associated with the trailer, a pipe 41 being shown for thus effecting this connection. A motor of this type is provided with a valve, not shown, Which when moved in one direction eifects rotation of the motor shaft in one direction, and when moved oppositely past a neutral position reverses rotation of the end wall of the truck or trailer body in a coni venient position for manipulation.

For holding down the marginal side edges of Y the flexible cover or tarpaulin I5, I provide these edges with a plurality of harness snaps i. which are snapped over cables 52,YV secured at their ends l to brackets 53, xed to the top surfaces of the top railsY 22, and Vwithin the space provided by i inwardly offsetting the guide members 2 I, as previously referred to.

In operation, and assuming the flexible top j structure I5, and the cross members I1 and I8, to 1 be withdrawn-to expose the opening I3, and it is desired to extend the structure to form the top or roof of the vehicle body, the motor 45 is actuated, and through chains 43 and 46, rotates the shafts 34 in clock-wise directions, as in Figure 8. f The actuating members 24, and the cross member,`

I8 connected therewith, through travel of the nuts 28, on the shafts 34, causes travel of the cross member I8 in the direction of the arrow, shown in Figure 5. Y

The covering I5, through its connection with the cross members I1, pulls these members along the guides, 2 I -2 I, rst the nearest, and then the next, and so on, in the manner indicated in Figure-5. vWhen the actuating members 24 have pulled the members I1V and I8 to the limit of the travel, that is, until the covering I5 is stretched throughout, the nuts 28 leave the threads of the Worm shafts 34, coming to rest, and the nuts 29 are free to rotate with the shafts 34, thereby making it unnecessary to stop rotation of the shafts 34 and the motor shaft at any particular time.

Y When the motor `45 is reversed, the actuating members 24 are picked up by the nuts 29, causing travel in an opposite direction, approach of the shoes 2li- 20, and folding `of the covering I5 between cross members I1 and I8, as indicated in Figure 4, until the nuts 29 leave the shafts 34, leaving only the nuts 28 in engagement with the shafts 34, these nuts being then free to rotate with the shafts, in the manner before explained. During its travelthe covering structure I5 has its edges Yheld down by the harness snaps 5I which slide along the cables 52 as will be understood.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into eect, this is capable of variation 'and modification Without departing from the variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim l. A construction of the character described, comprising; an open-sided enclosure; flexible covering means adapted to close the open side of said enclosure; operating means confined adjacent to the open side of said enclosure, and operable to close or open said open side, a screw stem included as a part of said operating means, power mechanism for driving said stem, a pair of nuts associated with said stem and connected to said covering means, and means for rendering one of said nuts effective depending on the direction of rotation of said stem.

2, A construction of the character described, comprising: an enclosure having an open side; a covering adapted to open or close said opening and having a movable end; screw and nut means for shifting said movable end of said covering, and including a screw mounted on said enclosure and held against longitudinal movement relative thereto, and a pair of nuts adapted to be threaded upon said screw and connected to said movable end; and means for conning rotation of one of said nuts in one direction and the other of said nuts in the opposite direction.

`3. A construction of the character described, comprising: a vehicle body having side walls and normally open at the top; top rails fixed to the upper edges of said side walls; hollow guides fixed to the upper surfaces of said side rails and inwardly of said side walls of said top rails; guide cables carried by said top rails between said hollow guides and the outer margins of said top rails; a flexible covering adapted to cover the open top of said Vehicle body; harness snaps connected to the edges of said covering and snapped over said guide cables; cross members having end portions movably mounted in said hollow guides and connected to said covering'l actuating means in said hollow guides connected to a predetermined cross member; a pair of nuts carried by said actuating means, one of said nuts held against rotation in one direction and the other held against rotation in the opposite direction; and an operating screw having threaded engagement with said nuts.

DONALD E. BRAMBLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number 6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Woolcott June 21, 1932 Tate Jan. 19, 1937 Forrester Apr. 29, 1941 Baker Feb. 2, 1943 Bramble Sept. 3, 1946 Rosenthal et a1 Oct. 15, 1946 Whelan et al Feb. 1, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Sept. 14, 1889 France Mar. 23, 1914 

